I LI BRARY OF CONGRESS. ? 

JUNITED STATES OF /.Aii'iUCA.} 



\ v> 



/ 



THE 



GIFT OF THE FATHER 



TIIOU.GHTS FOR THE WEARY. 



BY 



Rev. Charles Ba^ttersey, 




NEW-YORK : 

N. TIBBALS, 37 PARK ROW, 



145 Nassau-Street. 
1S67. 






0^ 

-3^ 



Kntered accoriinu- to Act of Congress in the year 1867, 

By rev. CHARLES BATTERSBY, 

In tlie Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern 
District of New York. 






^0|jirtlttlls §mtvt^t& 



i. i. €mull, €,^„ 



BrigJiUst Record in Eternity will he— 



HE WAS A FRIEND TO THE POOR. 



THE AUTHOR. 



[3] 



NOTE. 

Aside from personal experience, three years' 
labor for the neglected and destitute is quite suf- 
ficient to show that there is a dark side to 
human life, and that he sadly mistakes his ofl&ce, 
whOj professedly following the Master, does not 
constantly seek "to bind up the broken-hearted^^ 
as well as **to proclaim liberty to the captives, 
and the opening of the prison to them that are 
bound." In the preparation of the following 
pages, the only design was to minister instruc- 
tion and comfort to those who suffer privation. 
And if this little book, finding its way to some 
sorrowful home, bring light and joy to an af- 
flicted heart, the name of the Lord shall be 
praised. 



[51 



CONTENTS. 



I. 

ISKAEL. 

n. 

Thh Gift of the Father. 

m. 

God Speaking through his Son. 

IV. 

The Afflictions of the Eighteous. 



m 



I. 



app 



%xi %\m, § Israel: 



Is fik Ittt0 i^ed 



Deut. 83-29. 



[9] 



L 



ISRAEL 

OR 

THE BLESSED LOT OF GOD'S PEOPLE. 

At the utterance of these words, Moses 
was about to be separated from his people. 
Called to a great work, he had well performed 
his part and was now ready to leave it for 
his reward. Long years had passed since 
he exchanged the refinements and splendors 
of Egyptian palaces for a sterner life in 
Midian. Then, though a companion of princes, 
he could not forget the poor Hebrew slave 
and as cries of the oppressed entered his ears, 
the mightiest currents of his soul were moved. 
Fleeing from a land where he was compelled 
to witness without resenting his brother's 
wrongs, he made the desert air resound with 
cries for the promised deliverer. Willingly 
did he accept privation and suffering with the 



12 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEK. 

people of God, for, moved by a sublime faith, 
he esteemed the approbation of the Almighty 
far above the pleasures of sense or the 
honors of a sinful world. 

His prayers were heard and he himself 
was chosen to be a leader and commander 
to the people. With a mighty hand and a 
stretched-out arm, Israel had been brought 
from a land of thraldom and were now com-e 
to the confines of the land to be given them 
for an inheritance. Moses could not but look 
back upon the way they had come. The mar- 
velous acts of the Lord Jehovah, graven in un- 
changed freshness upon his memory, like a 
grand panorama passed before him. The fu- 
ture appeared — and his great heart yearned 
for the well-being of his people. He could not 
say farewell nor ascend old Nebo's heights, 
until he once more urged the necessity of 
cleaving unto the true God. Again he sets 
before them the service of God and its glori- 
ous rewards — the way of death and its fear- 
ful end. From what God has done as well 
as from what he is to do, he draws considera- 



ISEAEL. 13 

tions through which they may be constrained 
to cleave unto his testimonies. Then upon 
each of the tribes he pronounces a prophetic 
blessing and, in conclusion, concerning all 
Israel declares, "There is none like unto 
the God of Geshurun, v;ho rideth upon the 
heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on 
the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, 
and underneath are the everlasting arms; 
and he shall thrust out the enemy from before 
thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Israel 
then shall dwell in safety alone ; the foun- 
tain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn 
and wine; also his heavens shall drop down 
dew. Happy art thou, Israel; who is 
like unto thee, people saved by the Lord, 
the shield of thy strength, and who is the 
sword of thy excellency ! and thine enemies 
shall be found liars unto thee ; and thou 
shalt tread upon their high places." 

God has a people now. These are they 

who, escaping the bondage of sin, have 

liberty as well as completion in Him in whom 

dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead 

2 



14 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

bodily. And there are many points of re- 
semblance between God's ancient people and 
the Israel of God that now is ; and this re- 
semblance extends from their earliest calling 
unto their entrance into the promised land 
As God once dealt with his chosen overtly 
and for their temporal good, after the same 
fashion but secretly and spiritually does he 
deal with them now. In respect to past, 
present and future relations and their con- 
sequent blessings, of them it may, most appro- 
priately be said — " Happy art thou, Israel, 
who is like unto thee!" 

1. The blessedness of Israel rested upon 
this foundation — theirs only was the true 
God. 

Other nations had their gods — gods, vain 
as the minds which conceived them, impotent 
as the hands that fashioned them. But 
Israel's God was the maker of the heavens 
and the earth. The Egyptian might wor- 
ship the sun and moon — his Isis and Osiris 

the Hebrew paid homage to the Creator 



ISEAEL. 15 

and Governor of the hosts above. The hea- 
then might bow in shameful degradation to that 
his own hands could both form and destroy, 
the chosen of the Lord was exalted while he 
adored Him who " unchanged through time's 
all-devastating flight," is the only God ! 

It is well known that the gods of the hea- 
then, ancient and modern, are, for the most 
part, only the impersonated and deified pas- 
sions and lusts of men. No wonder then 
that the vile inclinations of the natural heart, 
fostered rather than opposed, should cause 
the Gentiles to walk in lasciviousness, evil 
desires, excess of wine, banquetings and 
abominable idolatries. Nor is it a matter of 
surprise that God, in looking down from his 
high and holy abode, should find the hearts 
of the sons of men, when left to their own 
inventions, fully set in them to do evil. 

The character of God, so well exhibited in 
the methods of Hebre-W worship had a natural 
tendency to elevate and refine all who became 
acquainted with it. So that aside from 
blessings directly bestowed, Israel was a 



16 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 

favored people. And it is a rule easily 
traced through all ages of the world that 
national as well as individual prosperity is 
always commensurate with a knowledge of 
the true God, a recognition and acknowledg- 
ment of his superintending providence and 
a careful observance of his commands. That 
was an answer worthy its author ^iven to 
the heathen prince who, having audience 
with the good queen of England, desired to 
know the secret of her country's greatness. 
Holding in her extended hand a copy of the 
Word of Life, she replied — This is the secret 
of our national prosperity ; this, by which a 
knowledge of the true God and a guide for 
the regulation of our conduct is given! 
And are not all national calamities traceable 
to a forgetfulness of God, or a failure to yield 
obedience to his just demands ? What were 
the plagues, the famines, the captivities of 
other days — what are the sufferings of the 
present but means employed that the nations 
may be brought to know that the Most High 
ruleth in the kingdom of men and that holi- 



ISRAEL. 17 

ness as well as justice and judgment are 
the habitation of his throne ? " Eightousness 
exalteth a nation ; but sin is a reproach to 
any people. Happy is that people that is in 
such a case ; yea, happy is that people whose 
God is the Lord." 

Happy are ye who through faith are the 
children of Abraham and heirs according 
to the promise. From this time forth and 
even for evermore the great and eternal One 
is your King. In distress you may cry unto 
him and he can hear you ; you shall call upon 
him and he will answer you. In weakness 
he will give you strength, in your foolishness, 
wisdom. He will cause his glory to surround 
you and before the glory of his presence all 
your darkness shall flee away. You need 
not fear to call forth your highest powers to 
do him homage, for your loftiest conceptions 
can never reach the beginning of his great- 
ness. You may confide in his love and trust 
to his protection, for his love is immeasurable 
and, shielded by his power, no weapon that 
is formed against you shall prosper. You 
2# 



18 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

may rejoice in the infinitude of his wisdom, 
the perfection of his omniscience; not a 
sparrow can fall to the ground without his 
notice, nor is there a hair of your head un- 
numbered. He laid the foundations of the 
earth and he sustains the pillars which 
uphold the universe of created things, nor 
can they be moved but by his command. 
" Hast thou not known ? hast thou not heard, 
that the everlasting God, the Lord, the 
Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, 
neither is weary ? There is no searching of 
his understanding. He giveth power to the 
faint ; and to them that have no might he in- 
creaseth strength. Even the youths shall 
faint and be weary, and the young men shall 
utterly falL But they that wait on the Lord 
shall renew their strength ; they shall mount 
up with wings as eagles ; they shall run, and 
not be weary ; and they shall walk, and not 
faint." Though, through the intensity of 
their sufferings, men, like Job, have cursed 
the day they were born into a world of 
trouble, no one has ever yet been found to 



ISRAEL. 19 

mourn over the day he was born into the 
kingdom of God. No, dear reader, if belong- 
ing to the household of faith, you cannot 
over-estimate the blessedness of your position 
for its glory will never decline while eternity 
endures ! 

2. The great work committed to their 
hands made Israel a happy and peculiar 
people. 

Their deliverance and temporal prosperity 
great in themselves, were only means to a 
greater end. In revealing himself to them, 
it was God's purpose to transmit to the sur- 
rounding nations the knowledge they them- 
selves possessed. Mankind was to be taught 
more clearly the character of the true God 
and the blessed results of a right faith in 
him. By the excellence of the favors they 
received as well as by the bright example 
they were to give, were the nations to be 
instructed to " praise and extol and honor the 
King of heaven, all whose works are truth 
and his ways judgment. 

Nor did they wholly fail in this. Qod's 



20 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

people have always been the light of the 
world. Like a city set on a hill they have 
not been hid. The cause which brought 
faith to the heart of Eahab before she re- 
ceived the spies with peace has operated 
throughout the whole world to spread a 
knowledge of the truth and give to the nations 
a saving trust in God. 

Comparing the condition of the world as it 
was four centuries ago and its condition to- 
day, how great a change is discovered! 
What a vast difference in the morals of men 
and in all those interests infallibly modified 
by morality ! How ignorance has fled before 
the light of truth ! How greatly has super- 
stition given way to clearness and freedom 
of thought! How have men been brought 
from the most woeful state of spiritual degra- 
dation to walk in the beaming of unobstructed 
Gospel light! In accordance with God's 
purpose, the world has been working out its 
own salvation, and God's people have been the 
working element. They are the leaven by 
which the whole lump is to be leavened. 



ISRAEL. 21 

Great as is the work already wrought it is 
far from completion. Truth, though greatly 
victorious, has not universal empire. The 
kingdoms of this world are not all the king- 
doms of our Lord. There are immense 
territories and countless thousands still 
shrouded in darkness and the shadow of 
death. God's Word must reach the corners 
of the earth and penetrate every domain be- 
fore all men learn to love the Saviour it re- 
veals. And, then, within our own borders, yes 
at our doors, how very much there is to do. 
It is not necessary to visit those portions of 
our cities "wholly surrendered to poverty and 
crime, for evidence is everywhere presented 
that multitudes are without hope and without 
God. 

And yet our hearts need not be given to 
discouragement. The work to be done is 
vast, but is sure of accomplishment. It is 
GodJs work and he has declared that it shall 
go on, subduing all opposition, sweeping away 
every barrier until " the earth shall be full 



22 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEK. 

of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters 
cover the sea." 

And there is a glorious work to which the 
individual is called. Put in trust of an im- 
mortal spirit, he has the control of its des- 
tinies. Having a place in time, he is passing 
to eternity, determined by his conduct here, 
of happiness inconceivable, or of woe unut- 
terable. There are affections in the dust to 
be trained heavenward. He has a heart full 
of enmity to be changed and filled with God's 
love and desire for God's service. There 
is a vineyard to be cultivated, talents to 
be improved, patience and watchfulness in- 
duced. A child of earth, he is also an heir of 
heayen ; and his discipline must correspond 
to his high destiny. And as, in the world, 
God makes his church the instrument of his 
working, so in the soul-training of man, the 
individual is co-worker with the diving Spirit 
When we remember the love God manifests 
for his work in the earth, the interest he has 
ever exhibited m its development, the nobility 
of the work itself, the glory which shall 



ISRAEL. 28 

attend its completion, as well as the high 
rewards to be given those who have in any 
way contributed their aid for its advance- 
ment, we see the propriety of the declara- 
tion — '* Happy art thou, Israel; who is 
like unto thee !" 

3. The past gave warrant to this utter- 
ance of Moses concerning Israel. 

Strong were the chains that bound them, 
but they were burst asunder. Heavy was 
the hand that held them ; but a hand more 
potent was raised for their rescue. " Who 
is the Lord that I should obey him?" 
blasphemously demanded the king. And 
God answered the tyrant, most and last of 
all, by slaying his first-born. Israel de- 
parts ; and the hardened Pharaoh, with his 
serried hosts, pursues. The multitude which 
Moses leads is encamped at Pihahiroth, 
between Migdol and the sea, over against 
Baal-zephon. The hosts of Pharaoh give 
evidence of their approach by the gleaming 
of their spears through clouds of dust raised 



24 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER, 

by ten thousand chariot-wheels. Above the 
cry of the terrified people, rises the calm, 
unfaltering voice of their leader. — "Fear 
ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of 
the Lord, which he will show you to-day : 
for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, 
ye shall see them again no more forever. 
The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall 
hold your peace." 

The hand and the rod are stretched over 
the sea ; and by the commandment of God, 
the waters, forgetting Nature's law, roll back 
in fearful heaps, and a highway is formed 
for the redeemed of the Lord to pass over. 
Leaving nothing but their enemies and their 
chains behind, they stand upon the wished- 
for shore, not slaves, but disenthralled — 
God's freemen. And as the waters close 
forever over their cruel foes, stilling their 
death-cries in its rushing wave, they swell 
the glad song unto Him who, in their de- 
liverance, had triumphed gloriously! 

So in the wilderness were their provi- 
dences scarcely less astounding. At Marah, 



ISRAEL. 25 

the waters lose their bitterness; in the 
wilderness of Sin, they hunger, but the 
morning brings them bread from heaven^ 
and the evening flesh from desert wilds ^ 
at Rephidim their thirst gives place to mur- 
muring, but in Horeb the rock is smitten^ 
and its out-gushing streams follow them to 
the promised land; Ameleck is discomfited- 
by Joshua, while Aaron and Hur support 
the wearied hands of Moses in the place 
where for remembrance Jehovah-nissi is 
raised; the people smitten but repenting 
are healed by that which was His type 
who, in being lifted from the earth, shall 
draw all men unto him. 

The redeemed of the Lord can testify to 
providences, marvelous as they have been 
repeated. They also were in bondage, 
groveling among the flesh-pots of their 
carnal desires. Satan, the Prince of the 
land in which they dwelt, was cruel in their 
oppression. And were not their lusts 
harder task-masters than those who withheld 
the straw? Were they not continually 
3 



26 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

goaded to unrequited labors? When they 
were the servants of sin, what profit had 
they then in the things whereof they are 
now ashamed ? 

But deliverance came, and they were 
brought out of the house of bondage. The 
bitterest waters have been made sweet. 
■From heaven their supply has come, and 
they have fed through all their journeying 
on Angel's food. The Smitten Rock has 
followed them, foes have been vanquished 
because of the interceding One, and in him 
that was lifted from the earth they h?-ve 
found their healing. 

" As the mountains are round about Jeru- 
salem, so the Lord is round about his people 
from henceforth, even for evermore." A 
thousand have fallen at their side, and ten 
thousand at their right hand, but destruction 
has not come nigh them. Because they 
have set their love upon God, therefore he 
has delivered them; he has set them on 
high because they have known His name. 
They have called upon Him and he has 



ISRAEL. 27 

answered them ; he has been with them in 
trouble, he has saved and honored them. 
With long life have they been satisfied and 
He has shown them his salvation. In view 
of past mercies, with all of truthfulness we 
may declare — "Happy art thou, Israel; 
who is like unto thee!" 

4. There were reasons in the present for 
this declaration. 

Israel was loved of God, nourished by 
Him, and with His almighty power pro- 
tected. And there is a present blessedness 
attending the household of faith. No better 
proof of love can be given than that one's 
life be surrendered for the object loved. 
But Christ gave himself for the churchy 

" Her walls before him stand 
Dear as the apple of his eye 
And graven on his hand." 

" The Lord's portion is His people ; Jacob 
is the lot of his inheritance." Glory and do- 
minion is ascribed, both in heaven and on 



28 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

earth, unto him that hath loved us and 
washed us from our sins in His own blood." 

When in moments of calm reflection, you 
are led to a right knowledge of yourself, 
you can but wonder that a creature so un- 
lovely should be loved of God. Forgetting 
that the Most High takes account of our 
frailties, you approach His Throne fearful 
of His upbraidings. If you draw near aright, 
God appears unto you as of old, saying, yea, 
I have loved thee with an everlasting love ; 
therefore with loving kindness have I 
drawn thee ! 

God's people are sustained by Him. 
Helpless as you were to save yourself, you 
are no less impotent in respect to all power 
for your support. You needed saving grace 
— without it you could not approach the 
cross. You need sustaining grace — ^with- 
out it you will never reach the crown. 
Upon Him who gave you spiritual being you 
must depend for its continuance. 

And then, with reference to them that are 
His, God is a shield and a stron:g tower 



ISEAEL. 29 

Amidst all the convulsions which shake the 
earth, the disturbances which afifect man- 
kind, the church of the Redeemer is safe. 
Built upon an immovable foundation, the 
storms beat in vain for its overthrow. It 
has flourished in adversity. It has stood — 
a far greater wonder — in prosperity. It 
was safe when men, illiterate and lowly, 
were its only adherents; safe when kings 
made it their sanctuary. Amid the pollutions 
and vices of the present day, opposed by the 
infidelities and hatred of deluded men, the 
church need fear no evil ; for God is her 
refuge and strength, her very present help 
in trouble. God is in the midst of her ; she 
shall not be moved: God shall help her, and 
that right early. 

5. The future opening unto Moses revealed 
prospective blessedness. 

That was a sorrowful farewell given unto 
the assembled tribes. Devoutly had they 
prayed that he, their leader, the sharer of 
their joys and sorrows, their mercies, and 
their necessities, might be spared to enter 
3# 



30 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

with them the goodly land. Better for them 
and him, God did not grant their re- 
quest. Standing, they watch him ascend 
the heights — now half concealed, now hid, 
then full in view ; till, lost to sight, Moses 
is alone — no eye upon him, no presence near 
him but God's. 

The people mourn. But God is their stay, 
and in Joshua they find all that they lose in 
Moses. There were difficulties before them 
— the flood must be crossed, the heathen 
removed before they could enjoy their inheri- 
tance. But their efforts, uncompleted were 
sure of ultimate success. Canaan was theirs 
and the time had come for them to go up and 
possess it. 

*' Glorious things of thee are spoken, 
Zion, city of our God !" 

Favored in times past, surrounded by pre- 
sent good, Thy future with greater blessed- 
ness, is to be made glorious ! 

" Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith 
your God," In obedience to this command, 
I pray you that are Christ's, to contemplate 



ISRAEL. 31 

the glory which is to be revealed in you- 
The land of rest is before you, and God 
purposes to bring you to its enjoyment. You 
shall triumph over all your foes through Him 
who is the captain of your salvation. Safely 
shall you pass over Jordan, for the Ark is 
gone over before you. " When thou passest 
through the waters, I will be with thee ; and 
" through the rivers they shall not overflow 
thee ;" you are fast approaching unto death ; 
soon shall you enter the valley darkened by 
its shadow. But to you — 

'* Death is the gate to endless joy, 
You need not dread to enter there!' 

** Were death denied, poor man would live in vain. 
Death wounds to cure ; we fall, we rise, we reign ; 
Spring from our fetters — hasten to the skies, 
Where blooming Eden withers from our sight. 
This King of Terrors is a prince of peace !" 

And 0, the beautiful land to which the 
redeemed are passing! Sometimes its 
blessed light falls faintly on our souls, bring- 
ing a joy beyond all utterance. Far from 
the haunts of men, with the blue sky above 



32 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

US, and beauty all around, peace filling the 
soul and calm enjoyment efiacing the remem- 
brance of a world of sin, we ask. Is not this 
the heaven we seek ? The answer from the 
blessed Volume comes — " Eye hath not seen, 
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the 
heart of man, the things which God hath 
prepared for them that love him." 

The glories and beauties of this lower 
world have a voice ; yet they but faintly 
speak of the glories of the world above. To 
the poor, it is a world where they shall be 
rich ; for the rich it is an inheritance of 
greater, and enduring wealth; to the sick 
a life in which there is 

"No weary wasting of the frame away ;'* 

to the wearied, a place of rest; to the 
mourning a home where there is no sorrow, 
neither crying, but where all tears shall be 
wiped away ; to those who sit in darkness 
it is a land where their sun shall no more go 
down, nor the moon withdraw itself, but 
where God shall be their everlasting light, 



ISRAEL. 33 

and the days of their mourning shall be 
ended. 

*' Let us depart, 

If home like this await the weary soul : 

Look up, thou stricken one ; thy wounded heart 

Shall bleed no more at Sorrow's stern control ! 

" With Faith our guide. 
White-robed and innocent to trace the way, 
Why fear to plunge in Jordan's rolling tide 
And find the ocean of eternal day ?" 

1. In view of these truths, how great care- 
fulness should there be on the part of God's 
people. " Wherefore," says the Apostle, after 
dwelling on the same theme, "Wherefore, 
beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, 
be diligent that ye may be found of him in 
peace, without spot, and blameless." God 
has, of his grace, given unto you light that 
others do not possess. Walk, therefore, as 
children of light. While you are God's 
witnesses you are also his workmen. By 
unremitting activity as well as by a well- 
ordered deportment, you are to draw others 
to the way you have made your choice. 



34 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

God has called you to a work in which every- 
one has his allotted part. You cannot by 
any means, leave for another the duty you 
should perfornij however insignificant that 
duty may appear. You are in possession of 
powers, not your own, to be employed for 
high and noble purposes. By reason of 
what God in time past has done for you, in 
view of what he now does, and, most of all 
in consideration of what you expect to receive 
from him — what manner of person ought you 
to be, in all holy conversation and godliness ? 
Let not the church be the worse but much 
the better for your having a place in it. 

2. There are many, looking over the past, 
sorry that they have not lived a better life. 
Deeply do they regret allowing the world 
so to influence them as that their faithfulness 
has been hindered* They are no more what 
they should be than they are what they wish 
to be. Sensible of Jesus' presence, they 
would cast themselves at his feet, confessing 
their demerit and imploring his pardon and 
help. 



ISRAEL. 35 

But beloved, you are now in Christ's pre- 
sence for he is moving your heart to this repen- 
tance. Nor does he condemn you. Without 
mentioning your sins, he freely forgives all 
that is amiss and receives you to his favor. 
With eternity before you and God's all- 
piercing but loving eye upon you, consecrate 
yourself to his service and be resolved to 
walk before him with a perfect heart. 

3. There should be unbounded trust in 
God, If at any time your deliverance fail, 
the cause of failure rests with you. God is 
ever mindful of his covenant, and while you 
strive to serve him there shall no good thing 
be withheld from you. 

And this trust should supercede all fear. 
It must be remembered that, to the christian, 
the hour of greatest darkness is not the 
period of greatest danger. The hiding of 
God's face is not the withholding of his pre- 
sence. There are times when Night leaves 
her mantle as a covering for the day and 
earth seems weeping in her sadness. Then, 
could we but take the eagle's flight and, ris- 



86 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE, 

ing, pierce the dark and dismal clouds, their 
upper surface would be seen all glorious with 
light sent forth from the sun through fields 
of purest azure. So Faith, rising from earth, 
finds God always present when unseen be- 
low. Build upon God and on his Word and 
you build secure. And though your circum- 
stances may change, your prospects change, 
unless you also change, God is the strength 
of your heart and your portion forever. 

4. There is no limit to the invitations of 
God's Word. All may become Israelites ; 
not by the circumcision of the flesh, but of 
the heart. 

Have you, dear reader, a desire to be of 
those upon whom God's blessings rest? — of 
those who, now in the wilderness, shall soon 
enter the land of promise ? Do you choose, 
by surrendering all that is against it to be a 
christian ? 

Then you may be what you desire. Re- 
ceive the assurance of God's love and mercy. 
Lift your heart to him and say — With thy 
help, I covenant my life to thee ! I would 



ISRAEL. 37 

be thine now, and thine eternally ! Give or 
withhold the things of this life, but let thy 
service be my work, let Jesus be my all and 
heaven my everlasting home ! 



II. 

4mx not Mk flatit; 

tax 
to gito HOW 



^r: 



amMom. 



Luke 12, 82. 



189] 



II. 

THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

NoTHiisrG is more commoPx than for the 
mind to entertain misconceptions of God. 
All, some time in life, and some in every 
period of life, regard him in his sterner at- 
tributes, ignorant that these are directed by 
infinite compassion and mercy. They always 
contemplate him as God — a being to be 
feared ; never as Father — one to be revered 
and devoutly loved. Wickedly measuring 
God by themselves, they conceive of him as 
seated upon his throne, looking down upon 
the disobedient with the same feelings they 
themselves entertain towards those by whom 
they may have been injured. They have not 
yet learned that his thoughts are not their 
thoughts, nor his ways their ways. He is 
looked upon as possessed of all good — hav- 
ing all power, but regarded as jealous of his 
favors and tardy in their bestowal. "He 

[41] 



42 THE GIFT OF THE FATHKE. 

gives ; but he gives sparingly and, as it were, 
of necessity!" 

Such views of God are as false as they 
are criminal. He is not a God afar off, 
wrapped up in his greatness, but a Father 
with %is^ caring for our cares, sympathizing 
in our sorrow^s, watching over our weakness ; 
and none but those who have experienced 
his mercy are aware how freely he bestows. 
Happy as his creatures may be in receiving 
blessings at his hand, their happiness or 
willingness to receive can never equal his 
pleasure in bestowing. He makes his crea- 
tures need a claim upon His bounty, and the 
greater the want or the more precious the 
thing desired, the greater is his glory to im- 
part. The highest possible good is here 
held up to your view, and with it the assur- 
ance that it is his good pleasure to give even 
this unto you. 

Let us contemplate this gift of the Father^ 
the four considerations jpresented why there 
should he nofear^ and then, the dispositions 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 48 

that should exist in its^ consequent upon 
the truth of the declaration. 

The kingdom here spoken of is elsewhere 
called the Kingdom of God. In its broadest 
meaning, it signifies that state into which 
the repenting are introduced upon faith in 
Jesus Christ — a state begun here, having 
its perfection in eternity. Such as receive 
this kingdom receive also the adoption of 
sons, and they aw^ait the coming of the King, 
their elder brother, that they then may be 
made partakers of his glory. Hence in the 
Gospel by St. Matthew^, after the warning 
against an inordinate carefulness of tem- 
poral things, the exhortation is made to seek 
first the Kingdom of God, and the assurance 
is then given that all needed good shall be 
added thereunto. 

Heaven, by many, is supposed to be a 
place to which death brings us, and only 
that. The error of this view is apparent. 
From the teachings of our Lord as well as 
from the experience of his servants, we know 
that, heaven, besides being a glorious home 



44 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

reserved for the faithful, is also a state to be 
entered upon and enjoyed now. For ex- 
ample : when questioned by the Pharisees 
with reference to the coming of the Kingdom 
of God, our Saviour answered: "The 
Kingdom of Grod cometh not with ob- 
servation ; neither shall they say, Lo, here ! 
or lo, there ! for behold, the Kingdom of 
God is within youP ov rather with the 
marginal reading, '[is among youP It was 
a Kingdom present but unobserved by them, 
for they were strangers to its power and its 
blessedness. Again, Paul, in addressing his 
Epistle to the Colossians, declares that he 
had not ceased to offer prayer, that those 
unto whom he wrote might be filled with a 
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and 
spiritual understanding ; that they " might 
walk worthy of the Lord in all pleasing, 
being fruitful in every good work, and in- 
creasing in the knowledge of God ; strength- 
ened with all might, according to His glorious 
power, unto all patience and long-suffering 
with joy fulness ; giving thanks unto the 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHEK. 45 

Father, which hath made us meet to be par- 
takers of the inheritance of the Saints in 
light, who hath delivered us from the power 
of darkness, and hath" — already — "trans- 
lated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." 

Fear not, then, ye who seek with humble- 
ness of mind and a contrite heart, the joys 
of a present salvation; for it is your Father's 
good pleasure to give you that kingdom 
which "is not meat and drink ; but righteous- 
ness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." 

But the Kingdom of God w^hich has place 
even in the midst of confusion and sin, shall 
receive perfection when order is again re- 
stored, and the earth purified from her de- 
filements. Christ, the Lord, shall again de- 
scend from the habitation of the glorified 
and restore all things unto himself; even as 
God has spokem by the mouth of all his 
holy prophets since the w^orld began. 

1. This kingdom is one of great antiquity. 

Before the mountains were brought forth 
or ever the earth w^as formed and taught her 
path-way round the sun — ere yet the sun 



46 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

himself, as a strong maiij ^ad begun his race ; 
when the morning stars were first created, 
and the silence of eternity first broken by 
angelic praise, from this time dates the 
Kingdom of our Lord. 

Antiquity is often the boast of nations. 
Kecords covered with the dust of ages are 
exultingly produced, containing the narrative 
of their early origin, — Fable taking up the 
story where truth had lost it. But where 
reason has the place of hollow boasting, and 
the kingdoms of this world are measured by 
that which is before as well as above all, the 
conviction finds easy entrance. — "For we are 
but of yesterday and know nothing, because 
our days upon earth are a shadow." As the 
the tall oak lifts its proud head above the 
spires of grass beneath its spreading shade, 
so in respect to early establishment is the 
Kingdom of our Lord to the kingdoms of the 
world. "Thy throne is established of old; 
thou art from everlasting." 

2. This kingdom is also one of unalterable 
stability. 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 47 

The kingdoms of the earth rise, and the 
rapidity with which they reach their great- 
ness bespeaks their early downfall. Unlike 
those stars which shine with a mild and en- 
during radiance, they resemble the short- 
lived and brilliant meteor, whose eclipsing 
course soon ends in darkness. Men, profit- 
ing as they imagine by the follies of their 
predecessors, establish for themselves a 
kingdom upon different bases — a foundation 
proved by following generations to be equally 
false. One kingdom is erected upon the 
ruins of another only that in its turn may be 
furnished the foundation for one succeeding. 
And as the heavenly Kingdom has precedence 
in point of commencement, so in continuance 
is it incomparable. It is as stable as ancient, 
as lasting; as stable. In its construction are 
no elements which engender disruption and 
overthrow. Its constitution, true as the 
Almighty One, is written on the pillars of 
eternity. God was King ages past; yes, 
before ages were. He is King to-day. And 
when time shall be no more, his enemies sub- 



48 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 

dued, then shall He be King^ Lord over all, 
blessed forevermore ! Satan once attempted 
the overthrow of this kingdom, but the at- 
tempt resulted in his own confusion, and in 
confirmation of the glorious truth that this 
is "a kingdom which cannot be moved." 

3. It is a kingdom, moreover, of im- 
measurable wealth. 

The storehouses of the earth are filled 
with treasure, and these are explored to 
make great the nations and give magnifi- 
cence to the dwelling places of the princes 
thereof. But the riches of the earth are 
worthless, and its splendors dim in compari- 
son with those above. There is in the 
Revelation a description of the Capital of 
this Kingdom, the holy Jerusalem, descend- 
ing out of heaven from God, having the 
glory of God and her light like unto a stone 
most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear 
as crystal — with her twelve gates, each gate 
a pearl, and the walls enclosing the city of 
pure gold, like unto clear glass — a city with- 
out a temple for the Lord, God, Almighty 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 49 

and the Lamb are the temple of it — a city 
that has no need of the sun, neither of the 
moon to shine in it, for the glory of God 
does lighten it, and the Lamb is the light 
thereof! Though this language is highly 
figurative, it but faintly portrays the glories 
of the world of light. Let imagination take 
her loftiest flight, aided by descriptions most 
glowing, and it is yet to be remembered that 
the things which God has prepared for 
them that love him, both for this world and 
the world to come, have not entered into the 
heart of man. 

4. It is further to be observed, that this is 
a kingdom whose sovereign^ tJioicgh possessed 
of ctbsoliite/power^ exerts that power only 
for the happiness of his creatures. 

Absolute monarchies among men are, 
nearly always, absolute despotisms. Happi- 
ness or well-being in the subject is not re- 
garded, excepting in so far as the pleasure 
of royalty is thereby increased. The plea- 
sure of the monarch is the thing aimed at — 
6 



50 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEK. 

there is often a total disregard of the means 
employed for its attainment. 

The King of Kings doeth according to his 
pleasure in heaven and on the earth. There 
is none that can question his authority. But 
his pleasure never brings pain to a subject 
his happiness, sorrow. Though unto him 
every knee shall bow, and every tongue con- 
fess his sovereignty, still '' in his presence is 
fulness of joy; at his right hand there are 
pleasures forevermore." 

6. This kingdom is characterized ly 
holiness. 

Too often are we puffed up with the idea 
of a christianized nationality, thanking God 
that we are not as other men are — " we do 
not bow down to stocks and stones !" Idle 
boast! Thousands amongst us have their 
gods many and their lords many, and other 
thousands worship they know not what. 
Besides our idolatries, there are a thousand 
other corruptions pervading the masses, in 
the higher walks of life — among the governed, 
on the throne. Setting aside empty profes- 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 51 

sion, where will you find the nation whose 
God is the Lord? Where the people so 
filled with his fear that all their transactions 
are done in equity and truth ? 

But how shall we speak or conceive of the 
purity of the kingdom of our God — the Holy 
City, whose inhabitants not only have Tioli- 
ness to the Lord upon their foreheads but in 
their hearts ! Could heaven be opened unto 
us now, we should fall as dead before its 
glory ; and its glory is the brightness of its 
holiness. As the dwelling-place takes 
character from the inhabitant, so heaven, the 
dwelling-place of God, is like unto himself — 
GLOKiors m Holiness ! And then, 

6. This kingdom is the home of the faithful^ 
and the eternal resting-place of the weary. 

It is the destination of all those who have 
the fore-shadowings of the perfected king- 
dom already in their hearts. They having 
served Christ by ministering unto his children, 
feeding the hungry, giving drink to the 
thirsty, clothes to the naked, comfort to the 
sick and welcome to the stranger, shall stand 



52 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

in the company unto whom it shall be said, 
"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the founda- 
tion of the world !" 

This then is The Gift of the Father, 
It was sought, found and is to-day enjoyed by 
all those who are to be had in everlasting 
remembrance — those who confessed them- 
selves strangers and pilgrims but who are 
strangers and pilgrims no more^ having found 
that which they sought — a better country, 
that is, a heavenly. And it is your Father's 
good pleasure that this kingdom shall be 
yours. If you are his, it is prepared for you. 
And, viewing it as the joy set before you, how- 
ever rough the way, you may patiently run 
the christian race. If you now enjoy the 
blessedness of the man whose transgression 
is forgiven, whose sin is covered, no matter 
how dark your prospects for this life may 
be, you can look above and 

— '* read your title clear, 
To mansions in the skies." 

And you can say — 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 53 

*' Yonder' s my rest, my portion fair. 
My treasure and my heart are there, 

And my abiding home. 
. For me my elder brethren stay, 

And angels becken me away. 

And Jesus bids me come !" 

There are at least four considerations why, 
in the hearts of Grod's children, there should 
be no fear. And the first is — 

1. "It is your Father's good pleasure to 
give you the Kingdom^ 

With many this consideration would have 
but little weight. Blessed with an abun- 
dance of this world's goods, they know but 
little of the stern realities of life. But there 
is a ray of light here for the darkness which 
surrounds the destitute. Take an illustra- 
tion. 

"I do not know what I shall do," says 
one, " times are so hard, and work is hardly 
to be got. I have scarcely enough to buy a 
barrel of flour or a ton of coal for my family, 
or a few necessaries for my sick wife. I am 
told ' not to be taking thought for the mor- 
5=^ 



5-i THE GIFT OF THE FATHEK. 

row/ but to ^let the morrow take thought for 
the things of itself.' I would like to knoAV 
how I can help taking thought !" 

And the poor man goes home ; and at 
night, when all is still, he sits at the bed-side 
of the suffering one and reads — " It is your 
Father's goad pleasure to give you the King- 
doniP He reads it again — "It is your Fa- 
ther's good pleasure to give you the King- 
doiiiP The cloud moves from his face and 
as he looks upon the pallid countenance of 
the sufferer before him, he sees there a light 
which also makes radiant his own. " What 
could God give us more than that ? And if 
it is his good pleasure to give us the King- 
dom^ I know, if we ask him, he will give us 
what we now need — health and food and all 
things else !" And as a tear steals down his 
care-worn face, he thanks his God for his 
Bible, and feels that in this one short sentence 
there is more of comfort than is to be found 
in a cold unfeeling world. 

It is true that God can bestow ho greater 
gift than this, because it includes all other 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 55 

blessings — always excepting the One through 
whom we receive the Kingdom. But not 
withholding these his greatest gifts, shall he 
not with them freely give us all things? 
What is there, dear reader, you need to-day? 
Do you need light that you may better see 
the path of duty, or grace to enable you to 
walk in that path ? Do you feel a real need 
of more earthly comforts ? Has disease fas- 
tened upon you, and do you sigh for a return 
of health ? Ask, and all these shall be given 
you — if they will serve the better to bring 
you to the kingdom ! You do not wish them, 
if they would not. If it is your Father's 
good pleasure to give you the kingdom, then 
you may rejoice though you suffer the loss of 
all things ; for he will use your adversity as 
well as your prosperity — your destitution as 
well as your abundance* to bring you to the 
place where you have a better and an enduring 
substance! The second consideration is — 

2. "It is your Father's good pleasure to 
give you the kingdom." 

The doctrine of free grace is the hardest 



56 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 

we have to learn* It takes many a bitter 
lesson to teach us that the garments in which, 
all our life long, we have been clothed and in 
which we have gloried, are but jBlthy rags. 
It is not until the spirit has performed his 
wondrous work upon the heart that we abhor 
ourselves. Then we see that we deserve 
eternal banishment from the presence of 
God. Satan does not interfere until one is 
brought to true self-knowledge ; then he says 
" It is all very well for good people to expect 
to get to heaven — it is the height of pre- 
sumption for you to look for any such thing !" 
Then he hints at the many years passed in 
his service, the imperfections which have 
filled the life since his service has been left, 
and he asks, " Do you think that you deserve 
to be rewarded with eternal life? Why," he 
adds, "many have done and suffered twice 
as much as you have, and yet have been cast 
away. You might as well cease your efforts 
and enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea- 
son!" 

To all this the Christian can reply : ^' It is 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 57 

true that I have sinned and come short of 
the glory of God. I know I do not deserve 
the least of God's mercies ; much less do I 
deserve this, the greatest. But God will 
not reward me according to my deserts. 
It is not his design that I should pay for 
what I receive ; he knows I cannot. It 
is his good pleasure to give me the kingdom !" 
The third consideration is — 

3. " It is your Father's good pleasure to 
give you the kingdom." 

There are few hindrances in the way of 
sin. Perhaps the only opponent is con- 
science, and even conscience becomes feebler 
as habits of sin strengthen. The path is 
downward that leads from duty, from happi- 
ness and God. And whatever can make its 
course both easy and rapid is abundantly 
furnished. Let Nature have her way and 
she will work a speedy ruin for the one she 
guides. On the other hand the way to heaven 
is in more respects than one an ascending way, 
and all the powers of the soul, aided by 
powers divine, are called forth in its prose- 



58 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

cution. To float with the tide is an easy 
thing. Strong effort is called for if we would 
stem it. Let a man resolve in his heart to 
forsake sin and a host is arrayed against him. 
Let him attempt to carry out that purpose in 
his life, and he must contend with princi- 
palities, against powers, against the rulers of 
the darkness of this world, against spiritual 
wickedness in high places ! And so his ex- 
perience proves that heaven cannot be 
reached by indolently reclining 

*' On flowery beds of ease — " 

that stubborn nature can only be sub- 
dued and the heart sanctified by painful 
crucifixion and continued warfare! 

But fightings bring fears. Viewing the 
work before him — the enemies to be van- 
quished, and for the time losing sight of 
the One in whose might all is to be accom- 
plished, the Christian is overwhelmed with 
dark forebodings and is almost ready to 
believe what Satan suggests — after all his 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 59 

efforts will be unavailing and he will fall 
short of the prize. 

This third consideration is a barrier to 
prevent the in-coming of such fear, or a 
resort, when it has forced an entrance. It 
is a support upon which the soul, in the 
darkest hour may rest. Let discourage- 
ments increase ; let Satan, with supreme 
malignity, summon all his legions to the onset 
that with one grand overthrow your de- 
struction may be secured, yet you need not 
fear nor give way to despair, since it is your 
Father^s good pleasure to give you the king- 
dom ! 

When God resolves, who can withstand his 
purpose? God resolved that Israel should 
come up out of Egypt to the possession of 
the promised land. Pharoah was strong 
and Satan in him was much stronger ; and these 
two set themselves against the Almighty, 
and who prevailed ? Ask ; and you shall see 
a land made desolate with plagues ! Ask ; 
and a loud cry will enter your ear for the 
slain first-born! Ask; and over the flood 



60 THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

will come tlie strains of a swelling song — 
" Sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed 
gloriously ; the horse and his rider hath he 
thrown into the sea» In the greatness of 
thine excellency thou has overthrown them 
that rose up against thee ; thou sentest forth 
thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 
Who is like unto thee, Lord, among the 
gods ? Who is like unto thee, glorious in 
holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders !" 

And is not God equally able to accomplish 
his purposes concerning you ? He has 
already brought you up out of the land of 
Egypt and out of the house of bondage. So 
shall he safely lead you through the wilder- 
ness, even to the promised Canaan, for it is 
his jpurpose to do so ! And, then, the fourth 
consideration which, if all others fail, should 
serve to take away fear, is this — 

4. ^' Fear not^ little flock; for it is your 
Father's good pleasure to give you the king- 
dom" — that is, " It is GocTs command that 
you should not fear P 

Now it is always the safest and best to 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 61 

obey God upon his bare command whether, as 
in this instance, he gives the reason for the 
command or not. To hesitate is to distrust, 
and to distrust is to dishonor God. " Them 
that honor me" — and to honor is to have faith 
in me — " I will honor, but they that despise 
me shall be lightly esteemed." When God 
commands . there is no occasion to fear. 
Under the protection of One who has all 
power in heaven and on earth ; yes, and 
power over hell — with the guidance of One 
who knows the end from the beginning, and 
who never has had nor can have a mistake 
in the design, or a failure in the execution of 
a plan, why should you fear ? 

Let the winds blow with all their fury, and 
the mad waves toss the huge ship as a 
thing of naught — let day-light flee, no light 
be seen save that which sparkles from the 
foaming wave through which the ship must 
pass as through a sea of fire. The men fear 
not; for, with confidence in his heart and 
strength in his hand, the captain's at the 
wheel ! Does the infant fear when nestled in 
6 



62 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 

its mother's bosom ? When thunders shake 
the sky and lightnings turn the night to mid- 
day, does the little group at home fear, if 
father's only with them ? Neither should 
you fear when God directs — when on his 
bosom you may repose your head— when, 
meeting with God's children, you have Him 
in your midst! Fear not: for this is God's 
command ! 

There are certain dispositions which should 
have place in us consequent upon the truths 
we have considered. 

1. And it is first to be remarked, since it 
is your Father's good pleasure to give you 
the kingdom, it should be your good pleasure 
to receive it. 

After dwelling upon the excellencies of 
this exalted gift, one mighl: suppose there 
would be no trouble here. But when we 
take into account the barriers which sin 
throws up to prevent its coming — when we 
remember its rejection by thousands unto 
whom it has been oflered, the exhortation to 
receive it is seen to be a necessary one. 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 63 

Two kingdoms cannot occupy the same 
place at the same time. Said the Saviour, 
" Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." The 
King of glory or the Prince of darkness must 
be your lord — one^ not both. But where 
Satan has the supremacy, and he has it in 
every unregenerate heart, his power is not 
so easily broken. It is by violence that he 
is removed and a better authority established. 

Let sin no longer have dominion over you. 
Having put on Christ, strive to walk in Him. 
Be willing that the Lord Jesus should enter 
your heart and reign without a rival there. 
At any sacrifice, choose to receive the king- 
dom of God in all its present fulness, wait- 
ing patiently its perfection in eternity. Im- 
plore the Spirit's aid that you may offer 
daily this petition with all its meaning — 
''Thy Tcingdom come^ thy will he done^ 
in m^, ''as it is in heaven P^ 

2. There should be a fitness for heaven. 

To secure this your utmost diligence 
should be employed. 

The wicked are often heard to say, " I ex- 



64 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEK. 

pect to go to heaven when I die. I hope 
God, in a dying hour, will have mercy upon 
my soul and bring me to himself!" Vain 
hope ! A man with all his sins about him fit 
for heaven? So then is the beggar, un- 
washed, unclothed, except in rags, a fit te- 
nant for a palace, a fit companion for a King. 
There is no heaven for the unholy. Go 
where he will there still is torment. For in 
his bosom is aflame which nought can quench 
save Jesus' flowing blood. The sinner, even 
after that he is justified by faith, needs the 
Spirit's sanctifying power before he is fitted 
for the place where the pure alone can dwell. 
Yield yourself, therefore, to God's gracious 
working. Seek, by all means, the same end 
He also seeks — even your sanctification. 
Murmur not at the circumstances through 
which you are made to pass ; for by the 
things which cause you sorrow, more than by 
those which bring you joy, is God perfecting 
the work within. When perfected, you will 
sleep. Fear not ; Christ will speak, and you 
will rise— satisfied with his likeness! 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 65 

3. There should be a readiness to depart. 

The Son of man, like one who has taken a 
journey into a far country without naming a 
time for his return, may come when he is 
least expected. "Blessed are those servants 
whom the Lord when he cometh shall find 
watching," 

Dear reader ; it may perhaps be that you 
are very near the grave. If so, and Christ 
be formed within your soul, then you are, 
even now, though unconsciously, entering the 
haven of eternal rest. Rough though the 
voyage has been, it is now almost at an end. 
Lift up the eye of faith and tell me, see you 
not the New Jerusalem, the pearly gates, the 
jaspar walls, the golden streets ? Breaks 
not the light which fills the land of glory on 
your view? Happy soul! Soon shall thy 
anchor drop; we shall see thee, shall hear 
thy voice no more ! But in heaven a new 
voice shall be heard, and another harp lend 
its strains to the heavenly harmony! 

Young Christian, be thou also ready! 
Eternity's morn breaks upon some before 



66 THE GIFT OF THE FATHEE. 

their noon of life is past. With all earnest- 
ness and ^affection, let the question he pro- 
posed — Art thou ready, waiting, watching, 
expecting? 

With the joys of heaven before us and the 
assurance that Christ can save to the utter- 
most all who come to God through him, how 
sad the thought that so many are without 
hope in the Redeemer — so many that have 
not been folded by the Good Shepherd. Not 
to quiet their fears was this comforting 
scripture given. Indeed, since God's good- 
ness has failed to bring them to repentance, 
there is everything to fear. For God has 
declared that those who find all their happi- 
ness in earthly things shall be driven away 
in their wickedness, and then, though they 
cry unto Him for the least of his mercies, 
unto each of them He will declare — " Thou, in 
thy life-time, hadst thy good things, likewise 
my servants evil things ; now they are com- 
forted, but thou art tormented !" 

To every one who has hitherto neglected 
life's great work, we would say, having au- 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 67 

thority from on high, give God your heanrt^ 
and, numbered with his elect upon earth, 
you shall join them as they enter in through 
the gates into the city ! 

Away with our sorrow and fear, 

We soon shall recover our home ;- 
The city of saints shall appear, 

The day of eternity come : 
From earth we shall quickly remove, 

And mount to our native abode, 
The house of our Father above, 

The palace of angels and God. 

Our mourning is all at an end. 

When, raised by the life-giving word. 
We see the new city descend, 

Adorned as a bride for her Lord : 
The city so holy and clean, 

No sorrow can breathe in the air ; 
1^0 gloom of affliction or sin, 

No shadow of evil is there ! 

By faith we already behold 

That lovely Jerusalem here ; 
Her walls are of jaspar and gold. 

As crystal her buildings are clear : 
Immovably founded in grace, 

She stands, as she ever has stood ; 



THE GIFT OF THE FATHER. 

And brightly her builder displays, 
And flames with the glory of God» 

No need of the sun in that day, 

"Which never is followed by night, 
Where Jesus's beauties display 

A pure and a permanent light ; 
The Lamb is their light and their sun, 

And lo ! by reflection they shine ; 
With Jesus ineffably one, 

And bright in efl*ulgence divine. 

The saints in his presence receive 

Their great and eternal reward. 
In Jesus, in heaven they live ; 

They reign in the smile of their Lord 
The flame of angelical love 

Is kindled at Jesus's face : 
And all the enjoyment above 

Consists in the rapturous gaze. 

C. Wesley. 



m. 

Spk in f TO fast 

into II]t |at|m bg t|e |r0p|^ts, 

fait 

In i\m M iags 

Sphm nnto ns bg fis 
Son. 

169] 



III. 

GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS SON. 

The more of the world Tve see and the 
better we become acquainted with men, and 
are able in things pertaining unto them, to 
distinguish the real from the false — the more 
we discover of the pain and heart heaviness 
faintly concealed beneath the mask of cheer- 
fulness and contentedness, the deeper the 
conviction sinks within — '' Surely, every man 
walketh in a vain show; surely they are dis- 
quieted in vain." 

It is a wise appointment that our course 
in life is often shrouded in obscurity. It is 
a necessity that there be much sorrow min- 
gled with our portion here. This is the 
ballast by which, upon the waters, we are 
steadied ; without it, our overthrow is sure. It 
forms a barrier to our reveling amid the 
pleasures of sense ; it proves destructive to 
our forgetfulness of God or to a disregard of 



72 GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SON. 

our eternal home. We will not therefore 
murmur because we taste its bitterness. 
Without being insensible to its pains, we will 
yet joyfully receive it as a means of our eter- 
nal blessedness. 

But how dark and inexplicable would be 
our life, were there no revelation from God. 
This world with all its disturbances is a para- 
dise to what it then would be. For there 
would still be sorrow, but no intermin- 
gling of comfort. We would then have to die, 
but in death there would be no hope. 
Flowers might bloom, the fields be clothed 
with richer magnificence, the waters mirror 
back more beautifully the purity of heaven 
the forest trees whisper to the winds their joy 
and there would be no glad emotions nor re- 
spondings of joyfulness in us. 

And not only is our happiness involved in 
a revelation from Him that created us, the 
necessity of a revelation arises from the 
very object of our being. We are made for 
service, as well as for enjoyment It is not 
true to say we are made to be happy. We 



GOD SPEAKING THKOUGF HIS SON. 70' 

are made to serve ; and rewards of happiness 
are attendant upon this service. But, before 
we can obey God, there is needed a rule for 
our obedience, a law for the direction of 
those powers which God has bestowed ; and 
this law must be revealed. 

The revelation is made. God has written 
his law on all created things and given man 
an inward perception of it. It is written in 
shining characters above him ; the lesson is 
repeated in the depths beneath ; and by 
every sound, from the hoarse rumbling of the 
ocean surge to the peaceful murmur of ex- 
piring day, its teaching is conveyed unto the 
heart. God is in everything and there is 
spirituality in man which may respond to his 
movings. 

But, to the indirect teaching of created 
things, God, in love, condescends to add 
direct manifestations of himself. "At sun- 
dry times and in divers manners" He " spake 
in time past unto the fathers by the prophets." 
Enoch's evidence of acceptance with God 
was doubtless given unto him by outward 
7 



74 GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SON. 

manifestation as well as by inward con- 
sciousness. And the knowledge he possessed 
through which he was enabled to walk with 
God, was declared unto the world that others 
also might practice a like obedience. Noah, 
a preacher of righteousness, was in God's 
hand a trumpet sounding forth divine wrath 
upon a sin-cursed race, and giving kindly ad- 
monition of the destruction that so speedily 
was to overtake the rebellious and the pol- 
luted* Moses, honored above all men, had di- 
rect interviews with God, and from the heights 
of Sinai he brought the written law. David 
sang of One yet to come, and tuned his harp 
to sweeter minstrelsy when he discoursed of 
things concerning the King. And others, 
gifted with prophetic vision, while denoun- 
cing present iniquity, and giving direction as 
to the way of holiness, made known also 
things that should come to pass even to the 
end of time. 

Thus unto the Antediluvian and unto the 
Postdiluvian world, when men were few in 
iBumber, and when, for number, they were as 



GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS SON. 75 

the stars in the sky-^in the fulness of the 
mid-day glory, in the cool of evening, at the 
noon of night — in the silent chambers of the 
soul, from the burning bush, the Holiest of 
Holies, the mount shrouded in terrors, from 
the fire and from the cloud — in the trem- 
bling accents of the aged seer, and in the 
gentle lispings of the awakened child — in all 
these sundry times and divers manners hath 
God spoken unto the fathers by the prophets* 
But in these last days, He hath spoken 
UNTO us BY His Son ! Let us attend to a few 
particulars. 

1. God, in Christ, has given unto us a con- 
firmation of his truth, both as delivered by 
himself and by the mouth of his prophets. 

That man in his expulsion from the pre- 
sence of the Lord might not despair, promise 
was given him of One — the woman's seed and 
his — who would be the conqueror of his de- 
stroyer. Driven from a blissful home to 
become a wretched wanderer upon the earth, 
he had his heaviness, in part, removed 
by promise of One through whom mercy 



76 GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SOI^^ 

might be found and restoration to a higher 
bliss secured. It is but natural to suppose 
that the recipient of so glorious a pledge, 
through gratitude of heart, wouldforever,there- 
after, seek after God and look with joyful ex- 
pectancy for the coming of the promised De- 
liverer. Not so ! Generation succeeded gene- 
ration, and the mournful truth was declared 
concerning them all — " The heart of the sons 
of men is fully set in them to do evil." And 
God, by his prophets, renewed his promises 
of grace, and to induce men from walking in the 
way their evil imaginations had devised, pointed 
to Him who would be a ruler to his people Israel. 
But, did the renewal of God's covenant bring 
to pass the designed end ? Was the whole 
church visible thereby moved to a renuncia- 
tion of their idolatries, and a future and en- 
tire consecration to God? Did men love 
God because He so loved the world? No! 
The evil sentence was again and again pro- 
nounced. What could not be secured by 
acts of love, and promises of clemency, was 
attempted by fierce judgments of pestilence, 



GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SON. 77 

famine, the sword, and painful captivities. 
Yet was the heart of Grod grieved and the 
eyes of his servants made to run with tears 
because of the stubbornness, the rebellion of 
the people and the consequent desolations 
which were come upon Zion. 

Now, would it not have been just in God 
and only what the multiplied transgressions 
of mankind deserved to have repented Him 
of his gracious designs, and to have withheld 
his promised Son? It would have been just: 
but the promise, resting not on the merits of 
the creature, but on eternal truth, though 
the whole universe of created things should 
pass away, could not fail of fulfilment. " God 
is not man that he should lie ; neither the 
son of man that he should repent ; hath He 
said, and shall he not do it? or hath He 
spoken, and shall he not make it good?" 
What God has promised, whether of good to 
the upright or of evil to the wicked, he will 
not fail to perform. 

** Happy the man whose hopes rely 
On Israel's God ; He made the sky, 



78 GOD SPEAKING THKOUGH HIS SON. 

And earth, and seas with all their train ; 
His truth forever stands secure ; 
He saves the oppressed, he feeds the poor, 

And none shall find his promise vain." 

Jesus Christ, then, by his coming, while he 
fulfilled the prophesies, spake unto us con- 
cerning the immutability of God's word. 

2. God has spoken unto us in these last 
days as to the life he would have us live. 

The perfection of God's law was illustrated 
in the life of Christ — its adaptedness to raise 
man, made a little lower than the angels, to 
an equality with them in all loveliness and 
acceptability to God. The law w^as plain, 
but it needed exemplification. Christ came, 
not to destroy the law by lowering its re- 
quirements to suit man's degraded powers, 
but that he, by his life, might raise humanity 
to a juster apprehension of it. He came, a 
Saviour, to restore our souls. He was a 
Shepherd that he might lead us in the paths 
of righteousness. 

In the purity of Christ's spirit, the piety 
of his heart and the benevolence of his out- 



GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SON. 79 

ward life, we . have that which should call 
forth our highest energies. To which of the 
saints will you turn for an example so perfect 
as that of Christ ? Do you point to Abra- 
ham? Then you are reminded of his dis- 
trustfulness of God through which he was 
led to the grossest falsehood. Would you 
refer to Moses ? But sin, in that he spake 
unadvisedly with his lips, kept him from 
entering the promised land. Do you name 
Israel's sweet Singer and ask. Was not he 
a man after God's heart ? He was, so far as 
the government of Israel is concerned ; but 
there is the iniquity from which he prayed to 
be purged, and the blood-guiltiness from 
which he cried for deliverance. You say, 
" There is Saint Paul." Yes, a man in every 
way to be imitated, but not in his persecution 
of the saints! Thus you might enumerate 
the saintly throng whose lives, with any 
degree of minuteness, are related, and who 
either adorn the sacred page or give glory 
to the church in later days, and of none can 
it be said but of Christ, ^^ He was in all 



80 GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS SON. 

points tempted like as we are^ yet without 
sin!" 

Would you be made meek and lowly in 
heart?" Go take the yoke of Christ upon 
you! Would you be loving? Draw near 
to him who took the little children in 
his arms, put his hands upon them and 
blessed them! Would you be charitable? 
See him feed the thousands by his miraculous 
power, moved by a solicitude that would not 
let them depart fainting to their homes! 
Would you be sympathizing? Go with Jesus 
to the grave of Lazarus and drop with him a 
tear ! Would you be submissive, and, in all 
things delight in the pleasure of your God ? 
Imitate Him who came, not to do his own 
will, but the will of the Father by whom he 
was sent ! Would you be possessed of all 
that can exalt you upon earth, of all that can 
fit you for heaven ? Then go, not unto Abra- 
ham, nor unto Moses, nor unto David, nor 
unto Saint Paul ; neither to the Saints that 
bless the earth, nor to those who are them- 
selves blessed in heaven ; but, weeping over 



GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SON. 81 

your unworthiness, go sit at the feet of Jesus 
and learn of him ! 

Oj that men were more Christ-like ! 0, 
that Christians did more resemble Him whose 
name they bear — Him whom they profess to 
serve ! Then would the hungry be fed, the 
naked clothed, the sick visited, the destitute 
and the out-cast nourished. Then would 
there be no more pain caused by the slan- 
derer's venomed tongue, and all cruel and 
uncharitable bickering would cease. Instead 
of wealth spent in the punishment of crime, 
means would be employed for its prevention. 
Men, now" degraded and sinking still lower 
from a sense of their degradation^ would be 
taught and encouraged in a life of virtue. 
Then would the Church arise in the majesty 
of her strength and the excellence of her 
glory, her borders would be enlarged until 
all the nations of the earth were safe within 
her fold. Then would the earth, speedily 
released from suSering and from sin, hush 
her cry of anguish and join the morning- 
stars in the song sung at her birth! 



82 GOD SPEAKING THKOTJGH HIS SON. 

Comparing your life with that of Christ. 
is there not cause for shame, for tears, for 
self-condemnation ? In respect to your com- 
merce with the world, your deportment in 
your household, the condition of -your own 
heart, happy are you indeed if there is not 
room for a great, if not an absolute change ! 
In view of past deliquencies in the lives of 
all, is there no reason why God should speak 
'unto us in these last days by his Son? 

3. The teachings of our Lord were de- 
clarations of the divine will and word. 

Nearly fifteen hundred years had passed 
since Jehovah, proclaiming himself the only 
God, had given direction respecting every 
relation in life, making it obligatory for 
every one to love the Lord with all his heart 
and his neighbor as himself. But the com- 
mandments of God, plain when given, were 
made obscure by those whose hearts they 
failed to control. The traditions of men had 
so long been taught for the word of God, 
that, with a very small exception, the world 
was shrouded in gross darkness when its 



GOD SPEAKING- THEOUGH HIS SON. 83 

true Light came. It was a necessity that 
God should arise for the maintenance of his 
cause, for as the sceptre was about to depart 
from Judah, so was truth ready to leave the 
earth. 

And the time had come for the introduc- 
tion of a new dispensation. The wall of 
separation between the Hebrew and the sur- 
rounding nations was to be removed; im- 
mense accessions Avere to be made to the 
church of God from the Gentile world, and 
the prophetic inquiry was to receive answer 
in the fulfilment of Jehovah's design — "Who 
are these that fly as a cloud, and as the 
doves to their windows ?" A special com- 
munication from heaven was, therefore, 
required that the divine purpose, already 
foretold, might more clearly be made known 
in glad -tidings to all -people. And who so 
fitted to bear the message to the world as 
He who must die to save it? Reference is 
had to this part of his office v>^hen he is re- 
presented as saying— "I have preached 
righteousness in the great congregation: 



84 GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SON. 

lo, I have not refrained my lips, Lord, thou 
knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness 
within my heart; I have declared thy faith- 
fulness and thy salvation ; I have not con- 
cealed thy loving kindness and thy truth 
from the great congregation." 

And how wonderful appeared the teach- 
ings of the Saviour to the vast multitudes 
gathered to hear him ! They had been in- 
structed to regard malice and revenge 
consistent with piety— that friends might be 
loved but foes hated — that they might exact 
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth — 
that religion was in ceremonies and that he 
was most religious whose prayers were 
longest and whose charities accompanied by 
the greatest ostentation. But Jesus taught 
the principles of universal benevolence, 
kindness to the unthankful as well as to the 
good — that true religion is of the heart and 
not at all in performances and parade, which 
only foster pride and give strsngth to inward 
corruption — that charity is acceptable to 
God when it is prompted by love, free from 



GOD SPEAKESra THEOUGH HIS SON. 85 

the desire to be seen of men — that not the 
great, the wise, the mighty of earth are 
chosen, but that the poor in spirit, the mourn- 
ful, the meek, those hungering and thirsting 
for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in 
heart, the peace-makers, the persecuted for 
truth's sake are accepted and beloved of 
God, the foundation of whose joy is, their re- 
ward is great in heaven! 

And what ineffable sweetness, compas- 
sionate tenderness and divine majesty ac- 
companied his word I No wonder that the 
people, accustomed to the arrogance, cruelty 
and self-seeking of the Scribes and Pharisees 
were astonished at his doctrine. No wonder 
that the very men sent for his arrest, dis- 
armed and astounded returned to tell their 
masters, " Never man spake like this man !" 

And, dear reader, have not the Saviour's 
words fallen on our own hearts full of pre- 
ciousness and power ? Wearied and heavy- 
laden, has not his invitation, ^' Come unto 
me!" brought rest and refreshing to the 
soul? Burdened with a consciousness of 
8 



86 GOD sPEAKiisra THEOuan his son. 

guilt and feeling ourselves worthy of death, 
how has the load been removed when he 
said, " Neither do I condemn thee ; go and 
sin no more !" Looking no farther than to 
our own hearts and remembering all that 
is past, are we not ready to repeat the words, 
" Never man spake like this man F 

4. God speaks unto us through the suffer- 
ings and death of his Son. 

God's love cannot be exercised at the ex- 
pense of his justice nor can his love reach 
a point where his justice fails, for both attri- 
butes are infinite. God's love pleaded for 
the salvation of the sinner, but Justice could 
not remit one of her many claims against 
him. The integrity of Justice is shown in 
her great demands— the strength of Love in 
her willingness to comply with them. The 
great plan, according to which the whole 
system of created things must move is 
encroached upon and the transgressor or 
his substitute must suffer. Christ is the 
sinner's substitute and through his sufferings 
and his death God spake unto us of that 



GOD SPEAKINa THROUGH HIS SON. 87 

justice that could not spare so great a sacri- 
fice, and of the love that could not withhold 
so unspeakable a gift. 

The odiousness of sin is hereby discovered. 
Sin must be punished, though the bitterness 
of punishment be tasted by him upon whose 
shoulders it is laid — the Holy and the Just — 
the Beloved of the Father. The cup must 
not pass from those sinless lips until the 
worm-wood and the gall had entered his 
soul. For our trans2;ressions he was wound- 
ed : for our healing he was smitten. Only 
for the night of suffering and of prayer, the 
day that wrapped mount Calvary in darkness, 
the cry of the forsaken One, we never could 
so well have known the hateful character of 
sin! 

God speaks through the sufferings of 
Christ to those who, following his steps, are 
made partakers of his sorrows. " The dis- 
ciple is not above his Master: but every one 
that is perfect shall be as his Master." Or, 
rather, every one shall be perfected as his 



00 GOD SPEAXmG THEOUGH HIS SON. 

Master,^^ that is through suffering. " For 
it became him, for whom are all things, 
and by whom are all things, in bringing many 
sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their 
salvation perfect through suffering." Christ 
was made a perfect leader to his people through 
his sufferings and his death. As the Levitical 
priest was consecrated by the blood of the 
slain victim, so the Saviour by his own blood 
was consecrated and made a perfect priest 
for the offering of the world's sacrifice. 

They that are Christ's, must, in respect to 
suffering, be made conformable to his image. 
There is much pain attending the removal of 
the carnal mind» Deadness to the world, 
which, in some degree characterizes every 
Christian heart, implies the pain of dying. 
There can be no Christianity without daily 
cross-bearing; and to the cross all that is 
sensual must be nailed. We are to lose the 
the life of nature, would we find a higher 
life in God. "Forasmuch then as Christ 

^ Margin. 



GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS SON. 89 

hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm your- 
selves likewise with the same mind." That 
you may reign with Christ, you are called to 
suffer with him ; and, with, the apostles you 
may rejoice that you are accounted w^orthy 
to suffer for his sake. Seek not, then, 
a life devoid of pain. Choose that, rather, 
which, through the abandonment in your 
heart of all earthly good, shall bring you to 
fellowship with Christ and impart unto you 
the evidence of divine sonship. 

And as suffering is sweetened by the re- 
flection that to suffer is to participate in the 
experience of our Lord, so the pains of death 
are greatly divested of their sharpness since 
Christ has entered the grave before us. 
Death and the grave would be terrible in 
contemplation only for the sting removed 
and the victory obtained. Now, with the 
faithful women, we may joyfully accept the 
angel's call — " Come, see the place where 
the Lord lay !'^ Yes; when heart and flesh 
shall fail, we may ourselves lie down with an 
8# 



90 GOD SPEAKING- THROUGH HIS SON. 

unfaltering trust in God and resign our 
spirits into his hands who gave them. 

5. God has spoken unto us by the resur- 
rection of his Son. 

The work of redemption, in so far as it re- 
lated to the sufferings of Christ, was com- 
pleted when the Saviour bowed his head 
upon the cross. He had promised to come 
again unto those who were his, that he might 
receive them unto himself. Though, in re- 
spect to intensity of sorrow, they might not 
drink of the cup he must drink of, nor be 
baptized with his baptism, yet must they 
suffer and die. But as, from the grave, he 
had called forth Lazarus to a renewal of 
his life on the earth, so would they be taken 
to an eternal life in heaven. And this was 
the pledge of his coming — the temple would 
be destroyed and in three days raised again. 
He would inhabit the tomb and on the third 
day, by his own power, break its bars and 
come forth Conqueror over death and the 
grave ; and his resurrection was the pledge 
of theirs. 



GOD SPEAKING TIIEOrGH HIS SON. 91 

Thus according to the prophesies relating 
to him as well as to his own teachings did 
Christ rise from the dead and become the 
first fruits of them that slept. And as in 
Adam all died so in Christ shall all be made 
alive. Christ must first rise, afterward they 
that are Christ's at his coming. 

Our fathers, unto whom the prophets spake, 
have, with the prophets, long since passed 
away. The friends of our early childhood 
are gone. Our neighbors, our companions 
and our children sleep in the church-yard ; 
the winter snows drift where they lie, and 
when summer comes the flowers and grass 
make beautiful their resting-place. The 
tears course down the old man's withered 
face, as, leaning on his stafi*, he looks around 
and finds himself alone, bereft of all that 
once he knew and loved. Soon shall he join 
his kindred dead and we in turn will follow 
him. " Then shall return the dust to the 
earth as it was; and the spirit shall return 
unto God who gave it." 

But when the trumpet shall sound, the 



VZ GOD SPEAKING THKOUGH HIS SO]^. 

dead shall be raised incorruptible and we 
shall be changed. For this corruptible must 
put on incorruption and this mortal must put 
on immortality. Then shall be brought to 
pass the saying that is written, Death is 
swallowed up in victory ! 

Death may take from us our friends, and 
the grave may claim them; but we need 
not — 

■ — " tremble to convey 

Their bodies to the tomb ; 
There once the flesh of Jesus lay, 

And left a sweet perfume." 

Every particle of the precious dust is watched 
over by an omnipotent Power, that, in the 
resurrection-morning shall make every atom 
instinct with life. 

"Corruption, earth and worms, 

Shall but refine their flesh, 
Till their triumphant spirits come 

To put it on afresh." 

Blessed be God, who spake by the prophets 
unto our fathers, but, unto us, has so com- 
fortingly spoken by his Son! 



GOD SPEAKING THEOUGH HIS SOJST. 93 

6. God speaks unto us by Him who now 
liveth to make intercession for us. 

Christ now pleads for those who, sinful 
but repenting, look unto him for salvation. 
" We are not to conceive of Christ as an 
intercessor with his Father in heaven, in such 
an humble supplicating manner as when here 
upon earth, with knees bended down, and 
eyes lifted up to heaven ; this is inconsis- 
tent with his glorified state. But it is such 
a pleading and petitioning with. his Father 
as is in the nature of a claim and demand ; 
and it is such a claim and demand made to 
his Father, as is accompanied with the pre- 
senting the memorials of his death unto 
him."^ 

The continued intercession of Christ is a 
proof of God's willingness to accept the sin- 
ner for whom the Redeemer pleads, if farther 
proof is needed than that afforded when God 
gave his well-beloved to die. With respect 
to love of the sinful and desire for his sal- 

* Burkitt's notes on Heb, 7, 25. 



94 aOD SPEAKING THROUaH HIS SON. 

vation, the declaration made unto the Jews 
may be repeated evermore, "Z and my 
Father are one /" 

And as this pleading of Christ is a proof 
of the Father's willingness to accept, so is it 
a proof of the Son's ability to save. Says the 
Apostle, "Wherefore he is able also to save 
them to the uttermost that come unto God 
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make inter- 
cession for them.'' The vilest, the most de- 
graded, those despaired of by their friends 
and who have come at last to despair of 
themselves, may approach with humble con- 
fidence unto God and find in him their all. 
If the prayer of the righteous man availeth 
much, who shall measure the potency of the 
pleadings of our High Priest above ? 

And if those who repent of their sins may 
be encouraged, because of the intercession of 
our Lord, to trust in God's mercy, much more 
may they who have already found redemption 
in his blood. In life, at the hour of death, 
in the day of judgment, none can lay any- 
thing to the charge of God's elect. For it 



GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS SON. 95 

is God that justifieth. Who is he that con- 
demneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, 
that is risen again, who is even at the right 
hand of God, who also maketh intercession 
for us. Let none who love the Lord and 
give evidence of their love by constantly 
walking in his way, so far dishonor Him as 
to yield themselves to fear. For every one 
who has an Advocate with the Father may 
be persuaded that neither death nor life, nor 
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor 
things present, nor things to come, nor depth, 
nor any other creature, shall be able to sepa- 
rate us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord ! 

" Firm as his throne his promise stands, 

And he can well secure 
"What I've committed to his hands, 

Till the decisive hour." 

1. It is to be remarked that God in speak- 
ing unto us gives proof of his marvelous con- 
descension. There is none that can claim 
equality with God. He taketh up the isles 
as a very little thing, and the nations are as 



96 GOD SPEAKINa THEOUGH HIS SON. 

nothing before him. As the heavens are 
higher than the earth, so are his ways higher 
than our ways, and his thoughts than our 
thoughts. An attempt to apprehend God 
only shows the weakness of the finite to 
grasp the infinite. But though he is high, 
he has respect unto the lowly. The meanest 
of his creatures are as surely the objects of 
his love as the greatest. The worm that 
crawls the ground or finds its death beneath 
our foot — the insect that, born to-day, fills its 
grave to-morrow, has a place in God's 
thoughts as well as the highest angel that 
bows before his throne. He takes notice of 
us — the most tender thoughts he has to- 
wards us, and with the deepest solicitude 
^oes he regard us. He is preparing heaven 
for our everlasting habitation, and he would 
bring us to its enjoyment. Knowing our 
complete unworthiness thus so graciously to 
be dealt with, shall we not cultivate a love 
for the Being who has first and most loved 
us? 

2. God speaks to us through Christ as if 



GOD SPEAKING THROUGH HIS SON, 97 

he would teach us that through Christ alone 
we may have intercourse with heaven. As 
God speaks to us by his Son, so may we 
speak to God through his Son. Our prayers 
never rise to heaven except they be offered 
in the Redeemer's name. It is by his Son 
God speaks to us, and through his Son he 
grants us every good and perfect gift. 

3. What solemn attention should be given 
when God speaks! How carefully should 
we listen to his voice, and how scrupulously 
observe what he commands. The words of 
man may be disregarded and no evil follow, 
but the direst punishment must come upon 
those who turn away when God speaks. Let 
those then who practice sin, turn from th.e 
evil of their way before his wrath is poured 
upon them ! 

Eternal beam of light divine, 

Fountain of unexhausted love ; 
In whom the Father's glories shine, 

Through earth beneath, and heayen above: — 

Jesus, the weary wand'rer's rest, 
Give me thy easy yoke to bear ; 
9 



98 GOD SPEAKESTG- THROrGH HIS SON. 

With steadfast patience arm my breast, 
With spotless love and lowly fear. 

Thankful I take the cup from thee, 
Prepared and mingled by thy skill : 

Though bitter to the taste it be, 
Powerful the wounded soul to heal. 

Be thou, O Rock of ages, nigh ! 

So shall each murmuring thought be gone, 
And grief, and fear, and care shall fly, 

As clouds before the mid-day sun. 

Speak to my warring passions, — peace ; 

Say to my trembling heart, — Be still ; 
Thy power my strength and fortress is. 

For all things serve thy sovereign will. 

O death ! where is thy sting ? Where now 

Thy boasted victory, O grave ? 
Who shall contend with God ? or who 

Can hurt when God delights to save ? 

C. Wesley. 



IV. 



,m^ are 



%\lt f 0r^ 3tlimt\ 3m 



dW 



p. 



Ps. 84, 19. 



1991 



IV. 

THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS. 

Eeason and revelation unite to declare that 
our life upon earth is a state of discipline — 
a season of preparation ; and a careful sur- 
vey of all that is about us is sufficient to 
convince that the existing order of things is 
eminently fitted to elicit and develop those 
affections which alone can make possible the 
enjoyment of that future and noble existence 
met by the eye of faith. 

In the light of this philosophy, the deal- 
ings of God towards his people are largely 
divested of their mystery— much that before 
was unintelligible is rendered easy of com- 
prehension — that which was obscure is made 
plain — doubts* and fears flee away and the 
overflowing heart adores the wisdom and good- 
ness that doeth all things well. 

The excellence of the place prepared of 
God for his people has been shown at length 
9^- [101] 



102 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOIJS. 

and it was then remarked that there should 
be a fitness for heaven — that the Christian 
must be made meet for his inheritance with 
the saints in light* We will now consider 
an important means to that end and the man- 
ner of its operation. 

It may, however, be necessary to state 
that this fitness for heaven consists in the 
perfect possession of the divine image lost 
through sin — that holiness without which no 
man shall see the Lord — that complete de- 
liverance from sin secured by the energy of 
the Holy Spirit for those who are born 
again. A soul fitted for heaven is one hav- 
ing its affections set upon God and his service 
as the supreme good, giving to its Author 
that which it has received from Him — all 
that it has and is« Nothing more than this 
is required ; nothing less is accepted. And 
he is righteous who, keeping this constantly 
before him, cheerfully submits to the disci- 
plinary circumstances of life instead of re- 
sisting their designed and salutary influence. 

Let us look upon the righteous in his 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS* 103 

affliction, and then, upon the righteous in 
his deliverance. 

1. The Righteous in his affliction. 

Trouble and sorrow are the common heri- 
tage of mankind. See man whenever or 
wherever you please — from the cradle to the 
grave — from him whose days are spent amid 
the luxuries and splendors of a palace to the 
one who, in his humble shed, is scarcely shield- 
ed from the winter's blast — from those who 
endure the eternal frosts of arctic regions to 
those who pant beneath the almost insupport- 
able heat of the torrid zone, and, as surely as 
all are conceived in sin, your observation will 
only go to prove true the saying of Eliphaz the 
Temanite — " Man is born unto trouble as the 
sparks fly upward." 

The righteous has peculiar afflictions. 
While, by a virtuous life, he is saved from 
many sorrows which come unto the wicked, 
he yet, as God's Word teaches, has afflictions 
peculiarly his own — afflictions brought unto 
him from without and afflictions which have 
their origin in his own heart. 



104 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOTJS. 

1. The exhortation of the Apostle made 
unto the suflfering Christians of his day is 
equally in place for those of the present — 
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning 
the fiery trial which is to try you as though 
some strange thing happened unto you." 
For though violent persecutions are not so 
common now as in former years, the spirit of 
persecution is still alive and the same bitter 
opposition to truth does not fail in new forms 
to exhibit itself. As long as Satan is in the 
world, exerting his power over the hearts of 
men, so long will the followers of Christ 
have tribulation. To become a Christian is 
to set yourself against the world, the flesh 
and the Devil; and you have no reason to 
think these will be idle enemies. Indeed, 
the more you endeavor to let your light shine 
before men, the greater effort will be made 
to extinguish it. The more earnestly you 
reach after the prize of your high calling of 
God in Christ Jesus, the more resolute will 
be the hosts of hell to draw you from the 
skies. The higher you soar on wings of 



THE ATFLICTIOIS'S OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 105 

faith and love, the stronger will be their 
efforts for your destruction, that, in the 
greatness of your fall they may have the 
greater triumph. So that, from the time of 
Moses till the present, it is found that to 
forego the pleasures of sin is deliberately to 
choose affliction with the people of God. 

And it is not always ^or their own wrong- 
doing that Christian men suffer. The violent 
dealing of the wicked is sometimes allowed 
in its immediate consequences to fall upon 
the head of the righteous. The innocent 
must suffer with and sometimes for the 
guilty. By turning aside the base solicita- 
tions made unto him and in virtue maintain- 
ing the integrity of his manhood, Joseph in- 
curred the vengeance of a harlot and was 
cast into an Egyptian prison. So the faith- 
ful among the Hebrew captives were covered 
with shame because the uncircumcised hea- 
then, entering the sanctuary of the Most 
High, had defiled it. The disciples were 
forewarned that, for His sake whom they 
served, they should be hated of all men. 



106 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 

And the Messiah himself was wounded and 
slain, not for his own sins, but for the trans- 
gressions of those he came to save. Is it not 
enough for the disciple that he be as his 
Master, and the servant as his Lord ? 

2. And then the righteous must have 
afflictions arising within himself until Christ 
Jesus, who is made unto him wisdom, right- 
eousness and sanctification, becomes also 
complete redemption. For ''what watchings, 
and wrestlings, what condemnation and 
bitterness, what repentings and upbraidings 
burden the efforts of a soul that strives every 
day for a closer walk with God!" As a 
man's worst enemies are those of his own 
house, so the worst sins, as being most pro- 
lific of sorrow, are those of his own heart. 
And even sins, cancelled, that shall never 
rise for condemnation, leave, in their memory 
the bitterness of worm-wood and of gall. It 
is only when in heaven, delivered from this 
body of corruption, that the tears which have 
their cause within shall be wiped from the 
believer's eye. Indeed, the thought most 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOrS. 107 

filled -with comfort is, in that glorious home, 
while permitted to see the Eedeemer's face 
we shall — 

— *' never, never sin !" 
and so — 

— " from the rivers of his grace, 

Drink endless pleasures in." 

1. Afflictions are used for correction. 
When the Lord spake to Manasseh, in con- 
sequence of the abominations of that wicked 
and idolatrous King, his voice was disre- 
garded until the Lord brought upon him the 
hosts of the Assyrians and he was led 
captive to Babylon. Then he besought the 
Lord his God and humbled himself before 
the God of his fathers. The goodness of 
God does not always lead men to repentance. 
The rain falling for the unjust as well as for 
the just, does not always bring thankfulness 
to Him who sends the cooling shower. Be- 
cause of the effect they produce, the blessings 
of hSaven are often made into a curse by 
those who partake of them. So that it be- 



108 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 

comes a necessity for God, who willeth not 
the death of the sinner, to employ agencies 
which prove powerful as they are painful. 

And afflictions are not only sent to re- 
claim the sinner, they also are made to 
check and admonish the disciple. The war- 
fare against inward corruption is sometimes 
made the occasion for outward digression; 
the feet are allowed to stray from the path 
of duty; sins that, appeared so hateful now 
assume a more pleasing character ; the 
principle of holiness becomes nearly extinct 
and the heart quite forgetful of God. Then 
God, in mercy, sends afflictions, the wanderer 
is aroused and thus saved from eternal death. 
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but 
now have I kept thy word." 

2. Afflictions serve to keep the mind from 
being absorbed by earthly things. It is 
natural for the heart to seek its treasure 
here ; for the affections to be set on things 
of earth, rather than on things above. 
Severe discipline is necessary for the soul 
before it can justly estimate the things 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 109 

which perish with the using and compre- 
hend the things of eternal duration. Take 
affliction from a follower of Christ, and he 
ceases to be such, for he then forgets that 
he is a stranger and pilgrim ; and so, instead 
of looking for a city which hath foundations, 
is content with the one he now inhabits. As 
the eagle stirreth up her nest, driving her 
young from their safe resting-place that she 
may teach them to soar above the clouds, so 
the Father of mercies by afflictions arouseth 
those who are at ease and asleep in the 
midst of worldly enjoyment that they may — 

" Rise from transitory things 
Towards heaven, their native place." 

3. Afflictions are used for the development 
of important Christian graces. 

If now the righteous could see face to face 
instead of through a glass, darkly — if now he 
might fully compass that which he only 
knows in part, where then would be the 
abiding of faith, hope and love ? In a state 
of perfect happiness below, faith must be 
greatly enfeebled if not destroyed. It is 
10 



110 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTECTJS. 

only wlien promise is made of relief from 
comparative wretchedness that faith has its 
legitimate and healthy exercise. It is only 
when corrections are multiplied that Faith 
points to a Father's hand wielding the rod* 
It is only when clouds impend that Faith 
waits for the sun to part their dark folds and 
let down the golden rays. That faith may 
be found worthy of praise and honor and 
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, it is 
to be tried with fire and thus proved to be 
more precious than gold which perisheth. 

And SO5 afilictions are made subservient to 
the confirmation of hope. Hope is strength- 
ened by anticipated and not by present 
enjoyments. Hope that is seen is not hope. 
The privation of expected blessings and the 
endurance of positive evils give longing for 
the time when those shall begin and these 
end. 

And as faith is increased and hope con- 
firmed by affliction, so is love perfected. As 
afflictions are evidences of God's tender re- 
gard for the righteous so are they pledges of 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RiaHTEOIJS. Ill 

the relationship he sustains to God. " For 
vrhom the Father loveth he chasteneth and 
scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If 
ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you 
as with sons ; for what son is he whom the 
Father chasteneth not ? But if ye be without 
chastisement whereof all are partakers then 
are ye bastards and not sons." And these 
proofs of God's regard, unless destroyed by 
opposing influences, awaken in the heart a 
love for God. We love Him because he first 
loved us. 

And as these chief graces find their best 
growth in afflictions, so the subordinate ele- 
ments of christian character have here their 
perfection. From faith, springs holy joy, and 
trust, and patience in its perfect exercise. 
From hope comes quiet waiting — and wise in- 
difference to the world's pleasures and its 
pains. And in love is rooted that spirit 
which, while it fills the world with benefac- 
tions, bestows upon its possessor heaven's 
richest blessings. And so it is seen that the 
chastenings of the righteous, which for the 



112 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOTTS. 

present are not joyous but grievous, yield 
for him the peaceable fruits of righteousness. 
It must be remembered that the Christian 
is not exposed to trial fortuitously.^ His af- 
flictions are all by the appointment and per- 
mission of God ; and even though they are 
many, he has for his comfort the reflection 
that since they are under the control of a 
Being infinite in wisdom and of a Father in- 
finitely gracious and compassionate, they 
can, of necessity, be no more in number nor 
greater in degree than is indispensable for 
his highest good and final preservation. The 
means which God employs for the accomplish- 
ment of his purposes are simply adequate — 
neither too limited nor too extensive. We 
have seen the purpose of God concerning his 
children is their perfection and a means 

* Paul in addressing his Epistle to the church at 
Thessalonica, speaks of the provision he had made for 
them that they might be established and comforted con- 
cerning their faith, that no man might be moved by 
his afflictions ; " for," said he, '^ yourselves know that 
we are appointed thereunto*" 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 113 

largely employed for this work is affliction. 
Therefore, the afflictions of the righteous can 
be no more in number nor greater in degree 
than is indispensable for the one called to 
their exercise. Believing this, all who fear 
God and eschew evil may say, "Though he 
slay me, yet will I trust in him!" In deepest 
affliction the Christian should have unshaken 
confidence in God. For He who planteth 
the lily of the valley and watereth it with the 
dews of heaven. He who feedeth the birds of 
the air and knoweth the fall of the least. He 
whose tender mercies are over all his works 
will not break the bruised reed nor quench 
the smoking flax. 

" A bruised reed he will not break, 
Afflictions all his children feel ; 

He wounds them for his mercy's sake- 
He wounds to heal." 

And as the refiner, in removing the dross 
from the precious metal, places it in the cru- 
cible and watches over it until the greatest 
brightness is attained, so God, in suffering 
his children to pass through affliction, vouch- 
10=^ 



114 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE KIGHTEOUS, 

safes liis care to preserve and keep until, 
free from the remains of the carnal mind, 
the image of the heavenly is seen. 

The righteous is defended and supported 
in every affliction. Darkness had gathered 
round the patriarch's tent ; the man of God 
was stretched in deep repose within. Great 
victories against his enemies had been achieved, 
for the Lord of hosts was his defense, and 
the Holy One of Israel his king. A cloud 
seemed resting on his brow as if of trouble. 
When Lo! The Word of the Lord, the second 
Person of the Trinity appeared, saying, 
"Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy 
exceeding great reward." 

But what God was to Abram, he is to 
every one who is a partaker of the like 
precious faith of Abram — a shield, a defense, 
an exceeding high tower, whereunto he may 
continually resort. God's children are 
furnished with complete armor, weapons 
offensive and defensive, that they may fight 
the good fight of faith, and lay hold on 
eternal life, Christ himself is the Captain of 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 115 

their salvation, and through him they are 
made more than conquerors. 

The righteous is supported under every 
affliction. Though he fall, he is not utterly 
cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with 
his hand. Has death entered and taken 
from his dwelling the idol of his heart? 
With tears of sorrow are mingled those of 
holy joy, and he can say, "The Lord gave 
and the Lord has taken away ; blessed be 
the name of the Lord !" For the promise in 
its fulfilment has come — " Blessed are they 
that mourn, for they shall be comforted." 
Is he persecuted for righteousness sake? 
But the kingdom of God is established in 
his heart, the kingdom which is righteous- 
ness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, 
and which is the earnest and counterpart of 
the kingdom of glory, so he rejoices and is 
exceeding glad ! Does disease fasten upon 
him and bring him to a bed of languishing 
and distress? Then his heavenly Father 
makes all his bed in his sickness, and 
though it be but a wretched pallet of straw, 



116 THE AFFXICTIONS OF THE KIGHTEOUS. 

it is made to be softer than a bed of eider 
down. Do the sorrows of death compass 
him, and the pains of the grave get hold upon 
him? Then, as sinks the sun of life, the 
Sun of Righteousness arises, and 0, what 
brightness sheds around! With joyous ex- 
ultation he exclaims, "I fear no evil; for 
thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they 
comfort me !" 

" His God supports him in his final hour ; 
His final hour brings glory to his God. 
We gaze, we weep mixed tears of grief and joy. 
Amazement strikes ; devotion burns to flame — • 
Christians admire and infidels believe !" 

2. The Righteous in his Deliverance. 

Thus have w^e seen the righteous in his 
affliction, and thus do we behold him as his 
deliverance comes. We only know the end 
of his faith, the fruition of his hopes and the 
reward of his love as they are revealed in 
the Word of God. 

With w^hat patience and gladness the 
Christian can bear his trial when he re- 
members that it is so speedily to end. 



THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. IIT 

Besides realizing that afflictions are of God's 
permitting, besides his assurance of safety 
and support under them, he is also promised, 
a happy and final release. The work is soon 
accomplished, and he is then admitted to the^ 
joy of his Lord. 

I once had occasion to pass through a 
dense and lonely wood. It was night ; but 
the full-orbed moon gave a mid-day lustre to 
all around. My path, at times so light and 
easy to pursue, was occasionally made in- 
distinct by the thick foliage overhanging it. 
And sometimes I was inclined to retrace my 
steps, lest, in the darkness, I might wander 
and be lost. Persevering, the shades became- 
less frequent and less intense, the way grew 
more and more open until I came into the 
cleared field. 

Is there not a resemblance between the 
path in the woods and the Christian's path 
from earth to heaven? He walks the nari'ow 
way with ease until afflictions come, and then 
it is by watching only he keeps from straying. 
A.nd when God conceals his face with frown- 



118 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 

ing providences and troubles are increased, 
all light is gone, and faith alone becomes 
his guide. And often as he is about to enter 
these passages of trial and darkness, he is 
half inclined to retrace his steps, make ship- . 
wreck of faith, and relinquish his hope of 
one day reaching heaven. But encourage- 
ment comes, and, pressing forward with re- 
newed energy, he soon finds his path is that 
of the just which shineth more and more 
unto the perfect day. 

Dear reader, are yours the afflictions of 
the righteous? Do you seek, daily, the 
true end of your being ? Do you live, not 
as the beast lives, that you may enjoy the 
things which support existence, but that you 
may have a nobler life above ? Have you 
learned with joy to suffer the loss of all 
things, counting them but dross, if you may 
liave the excellency of the knowledge of 
Christ Jesus here, and a home with him at 
last? Do you sing — 

*' what are all my suff 'rings here, 
If, Lord, thou count me meet 



THE AFFLICTIOInS OF THE KIGHTEOUS. 119 

"With that enraptured host t' appear, 

And worship at thy feet ! 
Give joy or grief, give ease or pain, 

Take life or friends away, 
But let me find them all again 

In that eternal day?" 

Keep in mind that none can expect to 
enter the world of bliss, but those who are 
willing to suffer the afflictions of the righteous. 

*' The path of sorrow, and that path alone, 
Leads to the land where sorrow is unknown." 

Of all the countless multitude seen of 
John in his vision, there was not one who 
came not up through great tribulation. 
Therefore are they before the throne, serving 
God day and night in his temple ! 

Beloved, but afflicted one; be of good 
cheer ! The work of faith will soon be done, 
and a crown of bright glory is thine. Do 
not forget that — 

^'All whom God does glorify, 

And raise o'er sun and stars on high, 

He leads through depths and darkness here!'* 

When afflictions press hard upon thee, say 



120 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE BIGHTEOITS. 

with one of old — " He knoweth the way that 
I take ; when he hath tried me, I shall come 
forth as gold." Thy wounded soul that has 
been crushed 

"by pain and smart, 
Must still be cleansed by Sorrow's art, 
Ere it will yield a fragrance sweet, 
Ere it will shine, a jewel meet 
To lay before thy dear Lord's feet." 

Rejoice, inasmuch as thou art a partaker 
of Christ's sufferings ; and then, when his 
glory is revealed, thou shalt be glad also, 
with exceeding joy! 

1. Jesus, I ray cross have taken, 

All to leave, and follow thee ; 
Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 

Thou from hence my all shalt be. 
Perish, ev'ry fond ambition. 

All I've sought, or hop'd, or known ; 
Yet how rich is my condition ! 

God, and heaven, are still my own. 

2» Let the world despise, and leave me i 

They have left my Saviour too ; 
Human hearts and looks deceive me, 

Thou art not like them untrue ; 
And whilst thou shalt smile -upon me, 



THE AFFLICTIOIsrS OF THE EIGHTEOUS. 121 

God of wisdom, love, and might, 
Foes may hate, and friends disown me, 
Show thy face, and all is bright. 

S* Go then, earthly fame, and treasure, 

Come disaster, scorn, and pain ; 
In thy service, pain is pleasure, 

With thy favor, loss is gain. 
I have called thee Abba, Father, 

I have set my heart on thee : 
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, 

All must work for good to me* 

4. Man may trouble and distress me, 

'Twill but drive me to thy breast ; 
Life with trials hard may press me, 

Heav'n will bring me sweeter rest. 
Oh ! 'tis not in grief to harm me ; 

"While thy love is left to me ; 
Oh ! 'twere not in joy to charm me, 

Were that joy unmix'd with thee. 

6. Soul, then know thy full salvation ; 

Kise o'er sin, and fear, and care ; 
Joy to find, in every station. 

Something still to do, or bear. 
Think what Spirit dwells within thee ; 

Think what Father's smiles are thine ; 
Think that Jesus died to win thee ; 

Child of Heav'n, can'st thou repine ? 

11 



122 THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE KIGHTEOUS. 

6. Haste tliee on from grace to glory, 

Arm'd by faith, and wing'd by pray'r ; 
Heav'n's eternal day's before thee, 

God's own hand shall guide thee there. 
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days ; 
Hope shall change to glad fruition, 

Faith to sight, and pray'r to praise. 

MONTGOMERY. 



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